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Interview with Arab rappers Ibn Thabit and Deeb, Part 1

Libyan rapper Ibn Thabit and Egyptian rapper El Deeb tell openDemocracy's Bassam Gergi, Mazen Zoabi and Rosemary Bechler what Tahrir Square meant to them, what it is like being the voice of a leaderless revolution, and what they cared about enough to make them poets.

Arab Awakening
4 March 2012

Before speaking at the event 'Rap and the Arab Spring', co-hosted by openDemocracy and the University of East London, Libyan rapper Ibn Thabit and Egyptian rapper Deeb sat down with openDemocracy to discuss the symbolism behind Tahrir Square and how it has impacted on their rap. For Deeb, Tahrir Square was Plato's utopian city, where people from a variety of backgrounds came together to overthrow Mubarak and to build a new order. For Ibn Thabit, Tahrir Square was the spark that allowed Libyans to believe that they too could finally be free. Watch the video to find out more...

This is the first of a three part interview.

Part 2 and Part 3.

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